Magma agitation under Indonesia: Mount Lokon volcano erupts 800 times since July

December 18, 2012 – INDONESIA – Mount Lokon, which has erupted 800 times since July, spewed hot lava and volcanic ash as high as 10,000 feet on Monday, according to an Indonesian government official. The volcano has been one of the most active in Indonesia. A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the Sulawesi shoreline prior to the eruption. Mount Lokon, together with Mount Empung, is a twin volcano in the northern Sulawesi, Indonesia, roughly 10 km south of Manado. Both rise above the Tondano plain and are among active volcanoes of Sulawesi. Mount Lokon has a flat and craterless top. Mount Lokon has shown an increase in volcanic activity since early December. The Lokon and Mahawu monitoring station recorded eruptions on Dec. 3, Dec. 5 and Dec. 8, spouting volcanic dust up to 3,500 meters into the sky.  –Reuters, Jakarta Post